Results 1-20 of 29 for "freedom of information" speaker:David Winnick

Written Answers — House of Commons Commission: Freedom of Information (21 May 2009)

David Winnick: .... Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how much the House of Commons (a) has paid and (b) remains liable to pay in respect of the costs of legal actions concerning freedom of information since the Freedom of Information Act 2000 came into effect.

Members' Allowances (30 Apr 2009) has video

David Winnick: ...recognise that that feeling has grown in recent times. We did not do ourselves any favour when some decided to promote a private Member's Bill that would have exempted the House of Commons from the freedom of information legislation. What sense did that make? The Labour Government should be much praised for introducing the Freedom of Information Act 2000—the previous Government...

Oral Answers to Questions — Prime Minister: Engagements (1 Apr 2009) has video

David Winnick: Arising from what was said earlier, is my right hon. Friend aware that some of us fought against a Conservative private Member's Bill that would have exempted the House of Commons from the Freedom of Information Act? That being said, does my right hon. Friend agree that it is absolutely essential to have a system of allowances that MPs claim—most of them, of course, are for our...

Business of the House: Members' Payments and Allowances (22 Jan 2009) has video

David Winnick: ...pleased there will be greater transparency, but does my right hon. and learned Friend agree that had we been foolish enough to have continued with the earlier attempt to exempt ourselves from the freedom of information legislation, there would inevitably have been a feeling that we were trying to hide various amounts? That would have undermined all the good work that is rightly being done...

Opposition Day — [1st Allotted Day]: Emergency Care (21 Jan 2009) has video

David Winnick: On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Will you confirm that it is not intended to move the freedom of information order that is on Thursday's Order Paper? If that is so—I believe that it is—many of us will welcome the fact that we will not be exempted from freedom of information legislation. That was passed by the House, it applies to others and obviously it should apply to us....

Bill Presented: Members' Expenses (3 Jul 2008) has video

David Winnick: ...in any way. One should not forget that it was only a year or so ago that attempts were made, supported, as I understand it, by the House of Commons Commission, to exempt Parliament from the Freedom of Information Act. What would the position have been if that had come about? Inevitably, there would have been a strong feeling that we were afraid of exposing our allowances. Everything would...

Written Answers — House of Commons Commission: Freedom of Information (5 Mar 2008)

David Winnick: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission by what means hon. Members are consulted before cases involving the House are brought before the Freedom of Information Tribunal; what the total cost to the House has been of such cases to date; and if he will make a statement.

Business of the House (7 Feb 2008)

David Winnick: ...am afraid that that confidence is currently lacking. Although I recognise the measures that have so far been taken, it was only a short time ago that attempts were made to exempt Parliament from the Freedom of Information Act. In those circumstances, there is bound to be a suspicion that what is happening is a clublike investigation that will not lead to real reform.

Business of the House: Standards and Privileges (31 Jan 2008)

David Winnick: ...for the carrying out of our parliamentary duties. I do not know whether everyone does, but I welcome the fact that each year the amount claimed is published—a state of affairs that arises from the Freedom of Information Act 2000. It would be appalling if we did otherwise. However, questions have been raised. For example, the Senior Salaries Review Body has suggested that the National...

Estimates Day — [1st Allotted Day] — Supplementary Estimates, 2007-08: Standards of Conduct in Public Life (5 Dec 2007) has video

David Winnick: .... However, would he agree that we took a step backwards on 18 May, when the House of Commons passed by 96 to 25 votes the wretched private Member's Bill that would have exempted Parliament from the Freedom of Information Act? Fortunately, no one in the Lords would pursue it. Had that become law, we would have disgraced ourselves, because we would have said that freedom of information...

Business of the House (14 Jun 2007)

David Winnick: If indeed the Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill is dead and, I hope, buried for ever, my right hon. Friend should be aware that if there is a genuine problem over the disclosure of MPs' correspondence, I should support a measure that will deal with it. It is a pity that the problem was not dealt with at the beginning, rather than trying to exempt Parliament from freedom of information...

Prime Minister: Engagements (6 Jun 2007)

David Winnick: Does my right hon. Friend accept that among the important reforms and changes that have occurred on his watch over the past 10 years is freedom of information? Why should Parliament alone, of all the public bodies in this country, be able to contract out of a law? Can my right hon. Friend explain why the two Front Benches are supporting the private Member's Bill, when it should be thrown in...

Orders of the Day: Clause 1 — Exemption of House of Commons and House of Lords (18 May 2007)

David Winnick: ...Members' staff, but no one would justify that—not that I would call it expenses; I pay my secretary a salary, not expenses. A certificate was issued by the Speaker under section 36(6) of the Freedom of Information Act to stop the information being given. The Speaker has the necessary authority and has used it to issue five certificates. In my view, his authority is justified and in...

Orders of the Day: Clause 1 — Exemption of House of Commons and House of Lords (18 May 2007)

David Winnick: I completely agree. I take the view that as Labour Members we should be proud to support a Labour Government who introduced the Freedom of Information Act, which all our predecessors, and certainly the last Conservative Government, refused to do. The hon. Member for Aldridge-Brownhills (Mr. Shepherd)—if I may have his attention for a moment—introduced a private Member's Bill that...

Orders of the Day: Clause 1 — Exemption of House of Commons and House of Lords (18 May 2007)

David Winnick: ...that we want to conceal information—I shall not go into what sort of information, as that would be out of order—and that we want to be separate. Everybody else would be subject to the Freedom of Information Act—public bodies, local authorities, the devolved institutions—but not us.

Orders of the Day: Clause 1 — Exemption of House of Commons and House of Lords (18 May 2007)

David Winnick: Is it not of some interest that the Information Commissioner's office stated that in nearly two and a half years since the Freedom of Information Act came into force, it had not received a single complaint from a Member of Parliament or from a constituent concerning the improper disclosure of such correspondence—not a single complaint? Surely that demonstrates that what the right hon....

Points of Order (16 May 2007)

David Winnick: ...long tradition in the House. But as you, like your predecessors, are the defender of Back Benchers, I want to bring to your attention the fact that it becomes very difficult to oppose, as I do, the Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill, which will come before the House on Friday and which will exempt Parliament from the Freedom of Information Act 2000, when we find that the usual...

Business of the House (10 May 2007)

David Winnick: ...hon. Friend aware that many of us are deeply disappointed that party managers are actively encouraging Members to come in to support the private Member's Bill that would exempt Parliament from the freedom of information legislation? Having legislated for everyone else and rightly so—we should be proud that as a Labour Government we did that—why should we exempt ourselves? Why...

Points of Order (27 Apr 2007)

David Winnick: On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. There will be some surprise, I am sure, that the Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill is not to be debated today. It was due to be the second item, as you know. There is a feeling that it has been withdrawn. Will you confirm that the Bill has not been withdrawn, and that it has been deferred to 18 May? Many of us believe that that is just a ploy...

Oral Answers to Questions — Leader of the House: Business Committee (23 Apr 2007)

David Winnick: ...accept that if such a business Committee were already in existence it might well have come to the conclusion, and have made recommendations to the House, that to exempt the House of Commons from the Freedom of Information Act 2000 would be totally against the interests of the House of Commons, and that therefore circumstances would not arise such as those that arose last Friday where Whips...